Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Nov. 18, 1930. J, VANHORN 1,782,156

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1930' INVENTORI JTJ. Vani'aokn,

.TA Es q. vANHoBNQor rrrrsiaunein r SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, or swrs paratus for single track, involving inanualf Patented Nov. 18, 1939 or BENNSYLVANIA nnns rLv mA, ASSIGNOR :ro THE UNION V svatn, PENNSYL ANIA, GQB OBATION RAI WAYnnArricgcon rnennme Armin-Arcs u Application filed March 18, 1930. Serial No. 436,743.

My invention relates to railway traffic, con trolling apparatus, and particularly to aply controlled switches and manually con-- trolled signals governing trafiie over such switches.

One feature of my invention is the provi sion, in systems of this kind, of a single re- ,lay provided. with a single line circuit and serving as a homerelayfor one direction of ,tratfic, and-as a relay for the control of approach lockingtor the other direction of traffic.

characters land 1 designate the track rails n V at the point U is asecond westboundsi'gnal 7 -XU; and thetrack to the westofthis'sec-y I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my inventiornand will then'point out the novel features thereof in claims. 7

The accompanying drawlng is a diagrammatic View showing one form of apparatus embodying mylnvention. I

Referrlng tofthe drawlng, thereferen'ce of a railway track Q, over which trafilc moves in bothv directions. These rails are divided insulated joints 3 to form a stretch of track XY, and the rails of thisjstretch are. further divided by similar oints to formsignal S}, located at point Y, governs west boundtraffiothrough this stretch, and a sig 'nal S located at the point X,' governs 'east-' bound traflio through the stretch. Located S governing trafiic through the section tionl Located at the point "isQa second eastbound signal Sfdgovrningtraff c through section V 'Y and the ctracktoc the east of this section Located in the station VY aswitch C arrangedwhen reversed to divert westboundtraific'into a side track M. Located the section X U is a switch C arranged when reversed to divert east-l bound trafiicinto the-same side track. The

switch G is operated by a mechanism.1G

anjcl'the switch CA is operatedby a similar mechanlsm which is omitted from the draw Each track section A is provided with a" the usual tr'acl: bat

track circuit comprising teryg 2 and track .relayT,

'ized switch relay'F and asiinilar relay, not

eKe and KP are in their middle positions, so that relays 'P and P are deenergized, with theresult that all four ofthe signals indicate :stop. Pole-changer L V -is in its normal T contact15 oftrack relay T and the windbeing energized, relay-D is energized by. Vi

sires .to clear signals S and S to permita V 'The signals ands are controlled. by a polarized relay P ,.and the signals S and S are controlled byxa similar polarized-relay P Switch G is controlled by a polarshown in the drawing, 'will ordinarily; be providedfor thecontrol of switch G The apparatus at the western end of the stretch is controlled in part bya line relay H and a 'similartrelay H is providedrfor the appa-' ratusat the other end of the stretch. rissociated with the relayfHB is a stick relay D and a slow pick-up relay E The pon 'ized relays F P and P are controlled in any suitable manner from a central point fice,,and as here shown, these relays are'controller bypole-changers L K -and K respectively. A

; As shown n the drawing, poleh g positio nso that relayF is energized in the normaldirection, with the result that switch G Lis-IikeWise in its normal position. The 1 stretcli.X-Y is unoccupied, so that all the track relays T are energized.v Line relay H A is energized by virtue of .a circuit which passes from terminalX of a suitable source of current, through the back point ofcontact 13 of signal relayP contact-14 of track relay ingof lBlZLYYHB to'terminal Oo'f the same source of current. Relay H is energized by a; similar circuitincludi-ng the-backpoint of contact 1801 signalrelay P andcontacts19 and 2O of trackrelays T -and T RelayHB tue ofa pick-up circuit which includes a front contact 30 of relay H Relay E A is deenergized, because its circuit .is open 'atlthe' back-point ofcontact 3201? relay DB.

: I will now assume that the despatehe'r de westbound train} to pass alongtheimain track .7

i (L To dothis,'he will operate pole-chzamgers K5! and K to supply current of such relative polarit-ylto relays P and PPth'at thepolarcontacts of these relays will swing to the left. A circuit for signal S will then be closed, which circuit is from terminal X, through contact 8 of track relay T contact 9 of a circuit controller N operated by switch C and which contact is closed only when the switch is in the normal position, neutral front contact 10 of relay P polar contact 11 of this relay in the left-hand position, contact 12 of relay H and the operating mechanism of signal S to terminal 0. Signal S will also move to the clear position by virtue of a circuit which passes from terminal X, through contact 3 of track relayT normal contact 4 of a circuit controller N operated by switch C neutral contact 5' of relay P polar contact 6 of this relay in the left-hand position, and the operating mechanism of signal S to terminal 0. Relay H will now become deenergized, because its circuit is open at the back point of contact 13 of signal relay P When the train passes signal S this signal will bereturned to the stop position, because of the fact that its circuit will be opened at contact 8 of track relay T When. the train passes signal S ,"this signal will, likewise, return to the stop position, because its operating circuit will be opened at contact 3 of track relay T It will be noted thatthe operating circuit for signal S includes a front contact 12 of theline relay H This relay remains energized because its circuit is provided with a branch around the back point of contact 18- of relay P which branchincludes a front pointof this contact and polar'contact 21 of the same relay, which polar contactis closed when the relay is energized in such direction as to clear signal S y If the despatcher desires to permit an eastbound trainto proceed along the main track, he will move pole-changers K and IC to .their opposite positions, thereby energizing relays P and P by current of the other relative polarity. Signal S will then give a proceed indication by virtue of a circuit which includes contact 3 of track relay T normal contact 4 of circuit controller N 7 1 neutral contact 5 of relay P polar contact 6 in the right-hand position and contact 7 of relay H Signal S will assume the proceed Indication by virtue of a circuit which in- V eludes contact 8 of track'relay T normal contact 9 of circuitcontroller N neutral contact 10 of relay P land polar contact 11 of this relay in the right-hand position. It

willbe observed that'the circuit for signal S f includescontact f relay H this'relay will remain energized by virtue of a branch for its circuit around the back point of contact 13 of relay P whichbranch ncludes the front point of this contact and the polar contact 16 in the right-handposition. Relay H will becomedeenergized, because its circuit will be opened at the back point of contact 18 of operated by signal S 7 the lapse V relay P The operation of the apparatus as If the despatcher desires to reverse switch C he will reverse the position of pole-chan ger L thereby supplying current of reverse polarity to relay F the circuit being from terminal X, through the upper contact of pole-changer Pflcontact 29 operated by signal S and closed only when this signal is in the stop position, contact 28si1nilarly operated by signal Sic-ontact 27 of track relay T winding of relay F contact 26 of relay D and the lower contact of pole-changer L to terminal 0. By virtue of the contacts 28 and 29 operated by signals S and S respectively, it willbe obvious that the switch cannot be reversed unless both of these signals indicate stop. It is also obvious that the switch. cannot be reversed unless relay D is energized, because o1"- thefront contact 26 of this relay which is included in the circuit for relay F The operation of the apparatus to restore switch C to its normal position willbe apparent without further explanation.

I will now assume that westbound signals S and S have been cleared, that a westbound train is in the section U V, and that the despatcher desires to stop such train and reverse the switch C gized, because its circuit is open at contact 15 of track relay T and relay D is deenergized because its main ick-up circuit is open at contact 30 of relay l up circuit is open at contact 38 of relay E and its stick circuit is open at contact 31 It follows that the circuit for relay F is open at contact 26 of relay D as well as at contact 29 of signal S and so the switch cannot be reversed. In order to reverse the switch, the despatcher will first operate pole-changer KB to deenergize P thereby placing signal S at stop. A circuit for relay .15 will then be closed, which circuit passes front terminal i1, through contact 31 operated by signal S and closed only when this signal indicates stop, back point of contact of relay D a1 l winchng of relayE to terminal 0. After of time required for relay E toclose its front contact, the auxiliary pickup circuit ior relay 1) will become closed, whichcircuit passes from terminal X, through contact 2-31 on signal S", contact 33 of relay E and the winding oi? relay D toterminal 0. As soon as relay D becomes energized, relay B will become deenergized, but'relay 1) will remain energized by virtue of its stick circuit which passes from terminal K, through contact ll on signal 8, front point of contact 32 or reia D and the winding of this relay to terminal its auxiliary pick- .a

to contact of track relay T may then be energized in such direction as to clear signal S without deenergizing relay I-I with the result that signal S may be moved to the proceed position to permit a Westbound train to enter track section V Y.

The circuit for relay H is provided with :a-

similar branch including normally open con.-

tact 17 of switchoperated circuit controller N It will be seen from the foregoing that the line relay H serves as a home relay for signal S during eastbound train movements, and that it also serves as a means for controlling the approach lockingof switch C during westbound train movements. Line relay H serves a similar function in so far as concerns signal S and switch C vAlthough I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that Va: rious changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Having thus described my invention, what I'claim is: .7 i

1. In combination, a' stretch of railway track dividedinto sections, track circuits including track relays for said sections, a switch C in the track section at the east end of said stretch and a switch G in the tracksection at the west end of said stretch, a westbound signal S and an'eastbound signal S governing traffic intosaid stretch, a westbound signal S governing traffic into the track section at the west end of said stretch,

, an eastbound signal S governing trafiic into the track section at the east end of said stretch, a polarized relay P for the control ,ofsignals S and S*,. a polarized relay P for the control of signals S2 and S a home' relay H associated with said signals S and S and having a front, contact'included in the control circuit for signal S", a circuit for relay H including front contacts of all of saidtrack relays except the one forthe section at the west .endof said stretch and a back contact of relay P a branch for said circuit around the back contact of relay P 7 and including a front contact of relay P and a polar contact of relayP closed when the relay is energized'to clear signal S, a

stick relay D a slow pick-up relay E a pick-up circuit for relay D including a front Relay P r cOntactofrela-y H at stick circuit for relay D ?"including a contact closed only when signal S indicates stop, a second pick-upcircuit for *rela'y D including said signal contact-and a front contact of relay E, a circuit for relay E including said signal contact and a back contact of relay D a relay F for thecontrol of switch C and controlling means for relay F including a front contact of relay D 2. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into sections, track circuits including track relays for said sections, a switch 04 in the track section at the east end of said stretch and a switch G in the track section at the west end of said stretch, a west-i bound signal S andan eastbound signal S governing-traffic into said stretch, a westbound signal S governing traflic into the track section at the west end of said stretch,

an eastbound si nal S 'overnin traflic into the track section at the east end of said" stretch, apola-rized relayl for the control of signals S and S*, a polarized, relay P for the control of'signals S and S, a home relay H associated with said signals S and S and having a front contact included in the control circuitfor signal S a'circuit forrelay H including front contacts of all of said track relays except the one for the section at the west end of said stretch and a back contact ofrelay P a branch for said circuit around the back contact of relay P and including a front contact of relay P and a polar contact of relay P closed when the relay is energized to clear signal S, and means for controlling said switch C by said relay H 3. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into sections, track circuits in-' eluding track relays for said sections, a

switch C in the track section at the east end of said stretch and a switch G in the track section at the west end of said stretch, a westbound signal S and an eastboundsignal S governing trafiic into said stretch, a westbound signal S, governing traffic into thetrack section at the west end, of said stretch, an eastbound signals governing trafiic intolthe track section at the east end of said stretch, a polarized relay P for the control of signalsS and S, a polarized relay P for the control of signals S and S, a 7

home relay H associated with said signals S andS candhaving a front contact included of saidtrack relays except the one for the section at the west end of said stretch and a back contact of'relay P a branch-for said circuit around the back contact of relay P in the control circuit for signal S a circuit j i for-relay H including frontcontacts of all and including a front contact of relay P secondbranchfin the circuit for rela B 13 around the contacts of relay P and the contact of the track relay for the sections at the east end of said stretch which branch includes a contact closed only when switch C is reversed, and means for controlling said I switch C by said relay H In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

JAMES J. VANHORN. 

